2009 Domaine Laroche Chablis 1er Cru "Vaudevay" (Elsewhere $45)

SKU #116335092 points
Wine Enthusiast

A young wine, its fruit only just settling with the fine acidity and intense texture. The potential is all there, from the wood-aged character to the freshest acidity to the rich peach and green plum flavors. The texture gives the wine a final tang.
(12/2011)

91 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The cooler, later-ripening side of Chablis comes through in the 2009 Chablis Les Vaudevey. Slate, crushed rocks, green apples, melon and white peaches emerge from the glass. Floral notes add lift on the bright finish. The Vaudevey is one of the more pointed 2009 premier crus here. (AG)
(8/2012)

90 points
Allen Meadows - Burghound

A ripe but still very clearly Chablis nose of green fruit, sea breeze and both white and yellow orchard fruit leads to delicious, round and nicely concentrated flavors that possess good verve and solid persistence. There is also better acidity than many '09s possess and while I wouldn't describe this as entirely classic, I might be tempted to use the terms 'a succulent classic'!"
(9/2012)

K&L Notes

From the winery: "2009 is a vintage to remember with a generous sun throughout the vegetative cycle and ripening season which enabled early harvest in September. The contrast of sunny days and cool nights resulted in ripe grapes with good freshness and an excellent aromatic synthesis. 2009 is a fruity, complex, balanced and harmonious vintage to be either drunk now of kept aside for a while Intense gold colour. Rich, fine nose with notes of grapefruit. Elegant, sophisticated on the palate, with a long lasting finish."

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Chardonnay

- It's hard to believe that up until about 30 years ago, this extremely popular varietal hid behind the veil of geographical names like Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet. Now grown all over the world and bottled by its varietal name, Chardonnay has achieved a level of branding unlike any other wine. Surprisingly, though, what you get when you buy Chardonnay can differ greatly from country to country and even within one country, depending on the climate where it's grown and how it is vinified and aged. From fresh, crisp and minerally with apple and lemon notes to rich and buttery with tropical fruit overtones, Chardonnay runs the gamut.
In France's Burgundy, Chardonnay is the source of the prized wines of Chablis, Corton-Charlemagne, Mâcon, Meursault and Montrachet. It also the foundation of exceptional Champagne, where it is blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier or vinified on its own into Blanc de Blancs. It is also extremely popular in California, and is gaining popularity in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and South Africa.

Country:

France

- When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them. Click for a list of bestselling items from all of France.

Sub-Region:

Chablis

- The region north of the Cote d'Or, famous for its steely dry white wines made from Chardonnay. There are 7 Grands Crus vineyards, and numerous Premier Crus. Unfortunately, the name has been borrowed and badly abused by producers of inferior white wines in the US as well as in Australia. True French Chablis is a delicate, stony, crisp Chardonnay, bearing no resemblance to the anonymous plonk so labeled here.